Elastic protector for shoes



I June 22, 1937.

1.. c. DE cum 2,084,948

ELASTIC PROTECTOR FOR SHOES Filed Oct. 6, 1936 ATTORNEYS NVENTOR Patented June 22, 1937 UNETED STATEg kATENT @FFICE Application ()ctober 6,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an elastic protector for shoes and has for an object to provide an elastic protector which will completely cover the upper of a shoe leaving only the sole and heel exposed so as to protect suede, buck, white, or

other colored shoes from ink stains, cement, bottom stain spots, or any dirt which might injure the shoe while it is being repaired.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any or the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe equipped with an elastic protector constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shoe protector with the shoe shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

The ordinary method of keeping a shoe clean while it is being repaired is to tape it with Scotch masking tape which is very expensive, costing approximately eighty five cents for a one inch roll. When it is considered that about 50% of the shoes that are repaired require taping it will be seen that this form of shoe protection is a very expensive procedure. With this disadvantage in mind the present invention provides an elastic protector having a novel pressure portion de signed to hold the protector securely upon the 40 upper of the shoe and thus eliminate the use of tape while the heel or sole is being repaired.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, i ll designates a shoe of the oxford type although the invention may be equally well applied to high shoes, riding boots, and other types of footwear.

In carrying out the invention I provide an elastic protector i i shaped to snugly embrace the entire upper and counter portion of the shoe and leave the sole and heel of the shoe exposed. The protector is provided at the bottom with an elastic band 92 of sufficient width to fit over the crease of the shoe and leave the welt exposed. The protector is provided at the counter portion thereof with a substantially U-shaped thickened portion l3 which embraces the entire back portion of the shoe and is provided wtih down- 1936, Serial No. 104,330

wardly curved ends which merge with the protector at the shank portion of the sole in front of the heel of the shoe, at about an inch more or less behind the ball of the sole of the shoe.

The thickened portion I3 provides a pressure device which is characterized by exhibiting a tendency to contract so as to almost dispose the inner faces of the protector underneath the pressure portion in contact with each other when the protector is not in use. Thus when the protector is applied the pressure portion will be expanded and always tend to contract against the shoe and produce a strong pressure, both inwardly and downwardly, upon the shoe.

In use the protector will cover the entire shoe above the sole and heel so that when a shoe is being repaired, or when the sole and heel are being shined by a boot black the shoe will be protected against being soiled.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. An elastic protector shaped to completely cover the upper of a shoe leaving only the sole and heel of the shoe exposed, and pressure means for holding the protector in place said means consisting of a thickened elastic portion at the heel of the protector having downwardly curved ends which merge with the protector at the shank portion in front of the heel portion, the pressure portion being characterized by exhibiting a tendency to contract so as to almost dispose the inner faces of the protector at the pressure portion in contact with each other when the protector is not in use.

2. An elastic protector adapted to completely cover the upper or" a shoe leaving only the sole and heel of the shoe exposed, and a substantially U-shaped thickened portion formed integral with the protector and adapted to embrace the entire back portion of the shoe and apply strong pressure both inwardly and downwardly upon the shoe to hold the protector against dislodgement.

3. An elastic protector adapted to completely cover the upper of a shoe leaving only the sole and heel exposed, a U-shaped integral thickened portion on the counter portion of the protector adapted to embrace the back portion of a shoe and provided with downwardly curved ends which merge with the protector at the shank portion of the protector, and an elastic band projecting from the bottom edge of the protector of sufficient width to fit over the crease of the shoe and leave the welt exposed.

LEOPAUL C. DE CUIR. 

